Uxmal Main Entrance and Starting Your Exploration
HOURS
8am to 5pm daily 365 days a year.
PARKING
There is a gated parking lot at the entrance for 250 Pesos.
ENTRANCE FEES
There are two separate tickets required for Uxmal making it a very expensive site.
The current cost for an adult is 57 pesos plus a 125 pesos state fee. Mexican Adult Nationals pay 57 pesos and 71 pesos for the State fee.
Mexican Students pay a total of 71 pesos. Mexican retirees with credentials pay a total of 35 pesos. Mexican Children under 13 pay a total of 6 pesos.
Mexican Nationals and Residents (with residency cards) are free on Sundays.
SECURE STORAGE
There is a coatroom for small secure storage while you visit the site.
VENDORS
There are a few vendors at the entrance to the sites as well as shops inside the entrance. The shops outside specialize in clothing and typical Yucatan blouses, shirts and dresses. The prices are reasonable so if you are inclined you can purchase these items here with getting gouged. There is a little bargaining room.
We advise you to stay away from purchasing clay idols or ancient looking pottery. While there are many reproductions available, to the novice they are indistinguishable from the original. There are stiff fines and severe legal repercussions if you try to export original antiquities.
Inside the entrance courtyard there a few shops specializing in tourist souvenirs, jewelry, clothes and books. The prices in these shops are firm.
Thankfully once you pass the entrance area there are no vendors. We found this a welcome relief from Teotihuacan, and Chichén Itzá where the vendors can get outright aggressive.
We are opinionated on this subject. While we understand that Mexicans including the Mayans have traditionally had an ongoing walking market to sell their wares, we also feel that the unrestricted access to tourists at every temple breaks the sacred atmosphere and enjoyment of the site. If you have an opportunity to voice your opinion to the administration we encourage you to do so.
It is common for owners and sales people to call you trying to lure you into their store. Once inside they will likely follow you around as you look at various items. Generally speaking you do not bargain on a price if there is a price tag on the item.
FOOD AND BEVERAGES
Bring water to hydrate as you walk the site. There is a cappuccino bar as soon as you enter the initial quadrangle of services and some beverage vending machines. Restaurants are located at nearby hotels just outside the gates.
WASHROOMS
There are male and female washrooms located at the entrance quadrangle and just as you enter the site. These are the only facilities throughout the park.
ATM
There is a bank machine located in the service quadrangle.
GALLERY
There is a small photo gallery with before and after shots of some of the structures; what they looked like when they were discovered and what they look like now. It is a good intro to the site.
WHEELCHAIR ACCESSIBILITY
There is limited wheelchair accessibility to Uxmal. There is a wheelchair ramp to the Pyramid of the Magician and a non-staired soil sidewalk to the Ball Court and the base of the Palace of the governor and Grand Pyramid. Unfortunately for the physically challenged, ancient site usually requires walking up flights of stairs and treading on uneven walkways and platforms.
BEGIN YOUR JOURNEY
We recommend you start your journey at the north and working your way south.
MAIN GATE
Drive walk or taxi to the Main Gate and to the ticket booth. If you wish to hire a licensed and trained tour guide you can do so here. There are guides that offer tours in a variety of languages.
Pay and proceed through the entrance area to the ticket collector and turnstile. You will walk a short path past the washrooms on the left. The wheelchair ramp begins.
You will pass a small water fountain/pool area to your right. This is a chultún and was used by the ancient occupants to collect water for domestic and agricultural uses. Unlike the rest of the Yucatan this area of the peninsula does not have cenotes of underground rivers of streams.
The Pyramid of the Magician is directly in front of you. Enjoy your explorations!